Nestled within the Coachella Valley, the city of Palm Springs is a famous resort and tourist destination. At 94 square miles, it is the largest city by land area in Riverside County. As for the population, it fluctuates throughout the year, as Palm Springs is a popular snowbird and retirement location. The city is busiest between the months of November and March, when there is an explosion of part-time residents and tourists from all over the world.
Many people are attracted to Palm Springs due to its gorgeous landscapes, arts and cultural events, and beautiful parks. The city also has plenty of well-appointed and luxurious hotels and resorts. But no community is perfect or free of incidents that are caused by reckless or negligent conduct. Sometimes, these accidents take place on properties that are managed by the city, like inside a building or at a tourist attraction. City employees, such as police officers, EMTs, and contractors may be responsible for accidents as well, like car crashes and physical assault.
If you were injured from an incident involving a Palm Springs government entity of employee, you may have the right to file a claim with the city government. The goal is to receive monetary compensation and recover the losses you’ve sustained as an accident injury victim. However, city agency claims are challenging for a number of reasons, which is why legal representation is highly recommended. The attorneys of Normandie are ready to guide you through the legal process and ensure that the city is held accountable for their actions. Contact our law firm as soon as possible and schedule a free consultation.
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Do I have a Case for Compensation from the City of Palm Springs?
Your right to sue the city for an injury while visiting Palm Springs is based on the concept of negligence. Essentially, negligence refers to careless or reckless conduct by an individual. The negligent party can also be an entity, like a private company, commercial property, or government agency. Thus, if you were injured by an act of negligence by the city of Palm Springs, you have the right to file a lawsuit for monetary compensation.
In a later section, we will cover the procedures for how to file a lawsuit against the city of Palm Springs. For now, let’s talk about the California Tort Claims Act (CTCA), which is a law that governs the process for an accident claim involving government entries in California. Here are just some of the accidents that a city government is liable for if negligence by one of their workers or agencies causes injury to someone else:
- Slip and fall in government buildings
- Trip and fall over raised or cracked concrete
- Car accidents with fire, police, or emergency vehicles
- Injured by falling branches at a city park
- Accidents caused by poor road conditions
- Assault and battery by city of Palm Springs employee
Accidents at Major Tourist Destinations in Palm Springs
Accidents are very common at tourist destinations, and some of these incidents are caused by owners and operators of the attraction. Sometimes, the owner is a private entity, like a corporation or hotel owner. Or, it may be an agency that’s part of the government of Palm Springs. Claims against the government involve different procedures than the average lawsuit, and they can be quite complicated to work though unless you have expert knowledge of the legal system.
Our lawyers can help you take the necessary steps if you were injured at a location within or around the city of Palm Springs. Here are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Palm Springs, where you may fall victim to an unexpected injury:
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Rancho Mirage
- JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
- Cathedral City
- Indio (City of Festivals)
- Indian Wells
- La Quinta Resort and Club
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Indian Canyons
- San Andreas Fault
How to File an Injury Case against the City of Palm Springs
Claims against the city of Palm Springs must be filed within 6 months from the date you are injured. Please note that there is no exception to this rule, meaning that if you are past the 6-months deadline, your right to compensation will be invalidated.
As soon as possible, you will need to complete the City Claim form, which you can do online at the city’s official website. This is quite convenient, as most cities expect you to download the form or pick it up in person, then drop off the form or mail it back to the appropriate department. If you have questions about the form, you can contact the City Clerk at (760) 323-8204 or cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov.
The City Claim form may appear simple at first glance. But there are questions that require detailed answers with supporting documentation. Failure to be specific enough or not include enough information is the main reason why these claims are rejected. Even when claimants are certain that they’ve made a solid case for damages, the city is very good at finding loopholes that will allow them to deny you payment.
Working with an experienced city government claims attorney is the best way to succeed in a lawsuit against the city of Palm Springs. Even if your claim is rejected, your lawyer can take immediate action to file a lawsuit though the appropriate court system and ensure that you do not end up with a lowball settlement.
How Much is the Average Accident Case against Palm Springs?
Valuating a compensation claim is a complicated process, and there are many factors that are involved. As you may have expected, the severity of your injuries and how they affect your life play the biggest roles. Then, we have to think about the act of negligence and the degree to which it caused or contributed to your accident. When all is said and done, a city of Palm Springs injury case may be settled for anywhere from $15,000 to $3,000,000 and above. We understand that this is a very wide range, and you are still likely to have questions about the value of your accident injury claim. We can help you figure this out, so don’t hesitate to call for a free case review.
How Long Does it Take to Settle a Claim with Palm Springs?
Reaching a settlement can be a long and frustrating process, no matter who you are suing. However, there are additional hurdles that you will face when the party responsible for harming you is a city government. Based on how badly you are injured, it may take the entirety of 6 months to prepare a compensation claim. Then, you will need to wait for a response from the city and take additional legal action if your claim is rejected. The lawsuit process can be quite lengthy – around one to several years, depending on whether your case goes to trial. More than likely, we will succeed in negotiating a settlement, but that process can still take over a year, especially in cases with serious injuries.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Making sense of the claims process for a government agency lawsuit is very challenging, even if you have previous experience with personal injury lawsuits. The rules are quite different when it comes to suing the government, and it’s quite easy to make mistakes or miss deadlines that can cost you the right to compensation.
Our job is to ensure that the city of Palm Springs doesn’t have the upper hand if you’ve suffered an injury due to their negligence. To learn how we can help you, please consider meeting with us for a free case evaluation or free second opinion. That way, you can decide for yourself if we are the best law firm to represent you, no matter how far along you are with your case.
We believe that legal representation should be a right, not a privilege, when you are the victim of someone else’s carelessness. Our clients receive free legal services under the Zero Fee Guarantee, which is a policy that protects your finances from start to finish. Either we win your case and have our bills paid by the city of Palm Springs, or we make nothing at all.
If you’re interested in discussing your rights and legal options with a city of Palm Springs accident injury lawyer, contact the offices of Normandie Law Firm.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Hacienda Heights
How to File an Accident Claim against Pismo Beach California
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of San Luis Obispo
